Dr Howard Patten

I am a full-time, professional private tutor with years of experience and an immensely successful record with my tutees, whether at GCSE, A Level, or degree level. A former Teaching Fellow at King's College London, I have degrees from the universities of London, Jerusalem, and Cambridge. Author of 'Israel and the Cold War: Diplomacy, Strategy and the Policy of the Periphery at the UN' (I.B.Tauris, 2013), I have reviewed for the Royal Institute of International Affairs and have written for several academic journals and newspapers. I was the first recipient of the Mikardo scholarship awarded by the British Foreign Office, and, whilst at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, I was awarded a Golda Meir Fellowship. Whilst at Cambridge, I won a Donner prize in Atlantic Studies for an essay on the role of the United States in the Falklands' War. In addition to the subjects listed below, I tutor in International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies, and I'm happy to consider all enquiries within my general areas of interest and experience. I am also available for dissertation consultation and help in exam and essay writing. As of 2022, my students have won places to, inter alia, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, KCL, Birmingham, York, Leeds, Hull, Sheffield, Nottingham, and Sussex. For peace of mind, I have an enhanced DBS check and am subscribed to the annual update service.

Tutoring Experience
A former Teaching Fellow at King's College London and PhD, I have taught MA courses on the Arab-Israeli conflict, US and British Foreign Policy, War and Peace in the Middle East, and Inter-Faith Relations. A fluent Hebrew speaker, I was Peer Tutor in Hebrew at University College London, where I was awarded the departmental prize for excellence in the Hebrew language. In addition to online tuition throughout the academic year, I also offer intensive tuition during school and university holidays, which both tutees and parents find particularly useful for preparation, consolidation of knowledge and, if need be, to get a tutee back on track.

Tutoring Approach
Patient, understanding, relaxed, interactive, theme-based, and multi-disciplinary. Use of past papers, both Edexcel and AQA, new and old specifications; analysis, evaluation, deconstruction of exam and essay questions, concepts, and requirements. Development of essay and exam structure. I pay particular attention to a student's self-confidence and self-expression, which often serve as catalysts for enhanced self-belief and success.

As part of a tuition package, I offer:
- A stand-alone introductory session at a 50% discount.
- Personal goal planning
- Subject resources
- Email support for further questions or follow up.